Follow IRC norms, HC instructs highways

Recording the above submission, a division bench comprising justices Vineet Kothari and Anita Sumanth disposed the plea moved by Advocate V B R Menon seeking for a direction to implement the IRC guidelines.

The guidelines were evolved with the objective of ensuring free flow of traffic on the roads along the fuel stations, minimum interference by the vehicles using the fuel stations and to ensure safety of vehicles on road.

Menon had submitted that the guidelines have already been accepted as mandatory by the Ministry of Highways and Ports while granting access to petroleum retail outlets on National Highways and several States were complying with the same.

Along with this, clause 10 of the IRC guidelines has also prescribed that the prospective applicants must be advised at the time of applying for new petroleum outlet to comply with the above prescribed guidelines. But none of the Oil marketing companies (OMCs) operating in Tamil Nadu or the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has taken any steps till date for the compliance of the IRC Circular.

Further, noting that since at present there are no prescribed guidelines or transparent criteria for issuance of NOC by the Revenue authorities under section 144 of the Petroleum rules, 2002 for site approval for starting Road-side fuels stations in Tamil Nadu, Menon had submitted that this had resulted in the arbitrary exercise of powers by revenue authorities without giving due attention to the traffic conditions and safety of vehicles and public.

It has been reported that Tamil Nadu had the highest number of road accidents and hence implementation of the IRC circular shall be of utmostimportance to ensure the safety of and security of travelling public, he added.